Israel has launched strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing Middle East conflict. The attack on the rebel-held port city of al-Hudaydah comes in direct response to a deadly Houthi drone strike on Tel Aviv early Friday morning, which claimed the life of an Israeli citizen.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant didn't mince words: "The fire that is currently burning in Hodeidah is seen across the Middle East, and the significance is clear." Gallant emphasized that this strike was a message, stating, "The Houthis attacked us over 200 times. The first time that they harmed an Israeli citizen, we struck them. And we will do this in any place where it may be required."
The Houthis, an Iran-backed rebel group controlling large parts of Yemen, have been launching attacks on Israel since November. According to Israeli military sources, they've fired over 200 drones and cruise missiles, most of which have been intercepted by U.S. forces or Israeli defense systems.
Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi politburo, issued a stark warning in response to the Israeli strikes: "The Zionist entity will pay the price for targeting civilian facilities, and we will meet escalation with escalation." This rhetoric underscores the potential for further violence in an already volatile region.
Behind closed doors, Israeli security chiefs briefed government ministers on the potential consequences of the strike. Sources revealed to Channel 12 that ministers were told, "Israel recognizes and is prepared for the fact that in the wake of the attack, an active front is being opened against the Houthis that will lead to a chain of responses." The security establishment advised that restraint was no longer appropriate, arguing it was "preferable to respond in order to not lose deterrence."
A senior Israeli official, speaking to Channel 12, described the Houthi attack on Tel Aviv as having "crossed all red lines," declaring that "the days of restraint are over." This sentiment reflects a growing frustration within Israel over the persistent Houthi attacks, which have now resulted in the first Israeli fatality.
The international community is now on high alert. Israeli officials are calling for increased pressure on both the Houthis and their Iranian backers.
As tensions rise, questions loom about the potential for further escalation. Will the Houthis make good on their threats of retaliation? How will Iran, the Houthis' primary backer, respond to this direct challenge from Israel? And perhaps most crucially, how will this new front affect the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the broader stability of the region?
With each side vowing to respond forcefully to the other's actions, the Middle East stands on a knife's edge. As the world watches, the fear of a wider regional conflict looms large, with Yemen now firmly in the crosshairs of this expanding confrontation.
* Arutz Sheva contributed to this article.